Daniel Cormier is not interested in reigniting his long-standing rivalry with Jon Jones.
“Bones” recently engaged with fans on YouTube and was asked how a hypothetical fight between him and Cormier at heavyweight, both in their primes, would unfold. Cormier and Jones famously clashed twice at light heavyweight, with Jones winning both bouts (the second victory was later changed to a no-contest after Jones failed a drug test).
Having since captured the UFC heavyweight title, Jones confidently asserted that he would not only defeat Cormier again at heavyweight but that the result would be “worse” for Cormier than their previous encounters at 205 pounds.
During a segment on ESPN promoting the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, Cormier addressed Jones`s comments, expressing his surprise that the topic was even brought up.
Cormier recalled Jones`s previous stance: “Jon Jones, when I was actively fighting said, ‘I would not fight Daniel at heavyweight because it gives him an advantage. That’s where he’s best at.’” He then contrasted that with his current situation, stating, “I’m 46 years old, I am retired, I swing a golf club in my free time. He’s out of his mind.”
Cormier`s recollection is accurate.
Back in a 2019 interview with BT Sport, Jones indeed stated that he had no desire to fight Cormier at heavyweight, specifically because he believed Cormier would possess a size and strength advantage in that weight class.
Jones said at the time, “Daniel Cormier is a special athlete and everyone can be beat. I think my greatest chance of losing would be to a guy like Daniel Cormier, with giving him a power and strength advantage over me, it just doesn’t make sense.” He added, “Right now I make light heavyweight very easily and it just wouldn’t make no sense to fight a guy who I think technically [is] on your level, and to give him a size advantage, I’m not doing it. I’m not doing it. I’m sure my fans don’t like to hear me talk like that, but that’s just me being a realist and being respectful to Daniel’s abilities.”
Cormier further discussed Jones`s recent remarks on his Good Guy / Bad Guy podcast with Chael Sonnen.
“He actually said it,” Cormier reiterated. “He was like, ‘I wouldn’t fight Daniel at heavyweight.’ This was when I was actively fighting. And again, Jon and I’s rivalry is dead, it’s over, I don’t fight anymore. But come on, what are we doing?”
Marcus Blakely